Boston Bruins: They struck gold extending Connor Clifton

The Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney has done tremendous job extending Connor Clifton. That deal might prove golden for the Bruins.

The Boston Bruins made seven transactions over the first day of the free agency period, but the most impressive deal was the one which didn’t include any big free agent signing, instead it was purely Don Sweeney signing a simple contract extension for Connor Clifton.

Because of the tight salary cap space situation, it hasn’t been a case of ‘everything is rosy’ ahead of free agency. Nobody was going to sign Artemi Panarin or Matt Duchene or whoever was out there, from the Boston Bruins perspective. Apart from the deals for Par Lindholm and Brett Ritchie, extending Connor Clifton has been very surprising, but also encouraging. Surprise, but a welcome one for sure!

At the beginning of the 2018-2019 season, let’s put your hand on your chest and admit, had you anticipated such a pleasant surprise from Connor Clifton?

More from Editorials

• Pavel Zacha’s veteran status leading to bigger role in 2023-24
• The Bruins should take a look at these four free agents
• Why the Bruins should wait to name a captain until after the season
• 3 players the Bruins can, 3 players could trade, 3 players they shouldn’t trade
• It’s time to offer Jake DeBrusk a contract extension

Probably nobody has, or at least just some of you. Clifton was selected as a 133rd overall player in the fifth round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Arizona Coyotes. In 2017, he just signed a one-year deal with the Providence Bruins. Just to prove himself, four years after he was drafted.

After his successful tryout in Providence, Boston Bruins chose to sign Connor Clifton to a two-year entry-level contract in 2018. And now, they have signed a three-year contract extension with Clifton worth one million per year.

At the beginning of the last season, not many expected Connor Clifton to have something to say on the Boston Bruins main roster. But as circumstances beyond their control occured, the Bruins had to go deep in their defensive depth pool. That’s why they gave the chance to Clifton to make his NHL debut in November in a game in Dallas against the Stars. That will also be the opening night for the Bruins 2019-2020 NHL season.

One interesting note: Connor Clifton made his NHL debut that night alongside Jakub Zboril, who was drafted a year later than Clifton, but in the first round as the 13th overall skater. More than anticipating Jakub Zboril to impress, it was the resiliency of Connor Clifton which dragged the attention. Clifton impressed to the point that the Bruins weren’t shy to provide him with a chance to play in the lineup as the regular season was winding down.

In his 19 games played, Clifton collected one assist, while averaging 17:42 of the ice time and the CF% of 56.9 at even strength. Those were some pretty solid numbers for a rookie defenseman. In the playoffs, with Kevan Miller injured, the Bruins bet on Connor Clifton to play as the third-pair right-handed defenseman.

Clifton delivered big time with playing in 18 playoff games and helping his team offensively with five points. He also scored the Bruins first tally of the Stanley Cup Final. Unfortunately for him and his team, he wasn’t able to put his name on the glorious cup. But now, with extending Connor Clifton, he will have a chance to win the Cup with the Boston Bruins for at least three more years.

Looking around the deals on the first of July, you have to pay in order to get yourself a reliable guy. Connor Clifton is a very reliable player for the Bruins. The Head Coach Bruce Cassidy got to know what he possesses in the 24-year-old blueliner. With Kevan Miller potentially traded away before the upcoming regular season starts, it’ll be Connor Clifton to beat for that third-pair right-handed defenseman spot.

If he plays like he showed he can play for the Bruins over the past spring, having him signed for a million (or less) per campaign for the next three seasons, that’s a major bargain. The Bruins already experienced a similar route with Matt Grzelcyk, who also came out of nowhere to be so reliable for Boston as the Bruins depend on him so much. What about the third pair of Matt Grzelcyk and Connor Clifton?

Very reliable defensive pair. They can move the puck, not shy to throw their body around, can kill penalties and occasionally help to run the power play. If required, they can step up and play big minutes for their coaches. At such a price, to have such a good defensive pair of two young defensemen, who may still progress and develop, that’s huge.

Extending Connor Clifton may turn out to be a golden move for the Bruins. Yes, there is still that shade of Matt Beleskey and David Backes. But otherwise, exactly for this players’ development and his smart hockey deals was the General Manager of the Year award handed to Don Sweeney.